gratitude

I have to pause for a moment to say thank you to everyone.  Really, everyone.  I am in the middle of writing thank you notes and it occurred to me that although we're trying to be good about making sure everyone who sends us a material gift gets a thank you note, that falls incredibly short of all the people who should be getting thank you notes. 

It seems like everyone we know has showered us with love, prayers, words of encouragement, uplifting emails, visits, meals, gifts, phone calls.  I can't even tell you how much that has helped us during this adventure. 

I'm sure you've all heard it before (and probably most anyone who's reading this doesn't need to learn this since we seem to have the best friends and family in the world), but if you ever hear of someone who could use a little pick-me-up, don't wait to be asked, don't ask what to do, just do something.  Even if it's just an encouraging note.  It does make a difference.  And feel free to call me out if I don't do this in return.  I should have already learned this lesson...

Thank you thank you thank you.  For everything.  We are incredibly grateful.

doc appointment

Another week, another doctor's appointment... 

Babies are growing.  Not quite as much as I had hoped and he's starting to outgrow her (which can be bad if he starts stealing too much from her).  She is 3 lbs. 8 oz. and he is 3 lbs. 14 oz.  I'm guessing their decline is because I've changed my eating habits to try to keep the blood glucose in check.  Somewhere, there's the perfect balance of contraction meds, blood glucose, and calories.  Just gotta figure it out...

They kiddos are totally crammed in there.  She's head down and now he's breach, so they're sort of like yin/yang or the pisces fish. 

I think it might be the only way they can fit in my crammed belly.  I'm still counting contractions and that seems to be the main thing for me to watch.  I'm now allowed 6 an hour, so if they're less than 10 minutes apart, take the meds, if they still don't stop, call the doc...

We got a couple new pics.  They're not spectacular, but hopefully the hubby can scan tomorrow and I can post sometime in the near future. 

So, it sounded like everything was okay.  At least, the doc didn't send me immediately to the hospital or tell me I needed to do anything differently.  She just said, see you next time!

She was leaving my appointment to go perform surgery on a baby who didn't look good, so say a prayer for those parents...  So grateful we're at 31 weeks!!

31 weeks!!!!!

Over 4 weeks of bed rest down.  Only 27 days left until Labor Day.  Woo hoo!!


Contractions are picking up a little, and I'm now taking my contraction meds as necessary rather than on a regular schedule (which might contribute to their picking up a little).  But, the contraction meds raise my blood glucose and I'm also testing that right now, so I'm trying to find the right balance of meds, blood glucose, etc.  Of course, also a part of that equation is work, rest, and whatever else I do with my day.  So, what that means is that I'm tracking pretty much my every move.  It's tiresome.  I'm starting to figure out a few tricks to make it easier.  Most of the time I just suck it up, but every once in awhile I lose it.  Tracking everything, watching what I eat, when I eat it, how much I eat, not being able to take care of myself so others having to deal with all these restrictions.  You get the idea.  Oh, and throw in only sleeping about an hour at a time at night, maybe one 2.5 hour bit at some point each night and raging hormones, I'm sure.  So, men out there (if there are any out there that read a preggo lady's blog...), be very patient and understanding with your preggo wives.

Time to prick the finger.  Which, by the way, I've started to master.  Now, if only I could learn to swallow pills with just water, I'd really be a grownup!  

c-section or v***nal delivery?

Many people have asked me whether I'm planning on having a C-section or a v***nal delivery.  The hubs doesn't like the v-word, hence the code name.  This is a difficult question for me.  Years ago, I would have said that doctors too often default to a C-section because they have more control and why don't they let more women deliver v***nally?  Now, after coming to terms with fertility and all the other drugs and medical treatment I'm undergoing to ensure the health of these little guys, I have more of an attitude that the most important thing is having two healthy babies in our arms and some of the details surrounding how they came to be are not that important.  The overwhelming feeling I have about all of this, in spite of all the medical help, is that it is a miraculous journey.

On top of that, I'm incredibly terrified of having one baby v***nally and then having to have a C-section for the other and having to recover from both!!  My doc is very laid back and happy to do whatever we want to do (unless there's a major issue, of course).  His wife delivered her twins v***nally, so I know he's comfortable with that.  I have been trying to learn what the benefits are to having a v***nal delivery, because with twins, it is definitely less risky to have a C-section for the safety of the babies.  My doc said the main thing is not having the scar tissue for future pregnancies.

I know many people have some very strong opinions on the matter and I would love to hear them!  (I may not agree end up deciding what you think is best, but I do want to hear.)

Please be respectful of others who may disagree, but otherwise, post away!

all is good!

One of the big lessons for me in this adventure is that much of medicine is an art, not a science.  Of course, the doctors work within a framework, but within that, there is quite a bit of variation on how to address various things and what the "right" decision is.  So, when searching for a doctor, seems to me, the biggest criteria shouldn't be whether you neighbor likes them, but whether they ascribe to a similar philosophy and approach as you do.

I don't think my 2 docs could be more different.  One is VERY laid back and not worried about very much, really.  The other, very strict and conservative about most everything.  So, went to the laid back doc today and he doesn't seem to be worried about anything.  I recently did the 1-hour glucose test and had slightly elevated glucose.  I opted out of the 3-hour because it made me so ill before.  So, I've just been testing my blood sugar to see if I might have gestational diabetes.  My numbers are not ideal, some elevated, some okay.  Today's doc is not concerned about a few spikes here and there, so long as there isn't a pattern of it getting worse.  He did mention that my other doc would probably disagree and would probably put me on insulin.  But, since I have twins and will deliver early, anyway, he's not terribly concerned.  Monitor it and continue a healthy diet, but I'm allowed to splurge on Italian Ice from time to time.  How does he know me so well?!?!  He also said I could reduce my contraction medicine and see how my body does because he thinks I might be able to get off of that.  That will also help my glucose levels because that medication causes my glucose to go up, so hopefully the contractions will continue to stay away and I can get off of that medicine and that will help keep the glucose in check.

So, all in all, I think everything is moving along well.  I have been much more exhausted these past few days than in the past, and continue to realize what a toll this is taking on my body!

We might be getting closer on baby boy's name...

the nursery - part 2

We (and by we, I mean the hubby since all I did was lie on the sofa and chat with him while he worked) made some great progress on the nursery this weekend!  Ok, I did do a little online shopping, which counts, but the fruit of that labor has yet to arrive on our doorstep.

My sis and I had started the painting in the nursery and the hubby put on the final finishing touches this weekend.  He also hung Dr. Seuss pics and applied wall stickers to the walls and door.  But, probably the biggest improvement is that we started putting away diapers and getting things out of their boxes.  I should have taken a before pic, but the room was quite full of boxes before the hubby cleaned out the closet and started putting things away.  I think we filled our recycling bin (and we have the giant trash can sized ones) with all the broken down empty boxes. 

Here are a few pics, taken with my phone, so not great quality, but you get the idea. 

30 weeks!!

I celebrate just about every day that passes, but the weekly milestones are really big deals.  34 days until Labor Day.  One more month, kiddos, we can do it!!

Below is the belly for those interested in its growth.  Some days it feels like the belly's not getting any bigger, the kids are just invading the space for my lungs, my stomach, my bladder, etc.  I've always felt lots of movement out of Sylvia.  In the hospital, they said it was because of her position.  Baby B, however, was the one who was really active in the hospital.  Which is comforting since I didn't feel his movements much.  Well, now I'm feeling them both.  And often.  I'm getting used to it, although there are definitely times when it takes me by surprise.